From Washington,this is VOA News.

Pope Francis celebrated his first Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican Tuesday.He urged people to turn away from pride, deceit and self-seeking.

Meanwhile,thousands of Christian pilgrims descended on the West Bank town of Bethlehem -- the biblical birthplace of Jesus.

Two American astronauts Tuesday successfully repaired a crippled cooling system on the international space station during a rare spacewalk.

It was the second spacewalk in less than a week for astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Mike Hopkins, and all non-essential equipment had to be turned off when the line died on December 11, and many experiments were halted.

Thailand's embattled prime minister has proposed the creation of a national reform council to resolve the country's political crisis.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has already dismissed parliament and called for early elections, but this has failed to satisfy opposition demands she resign.

She said the proposed reform council would work alongside the new government, to be elected February 2.

She said, however, that the body would not be part of the government, and that its members would be chosen by an independent commission.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has instructed his military to boost its combat readiness, warning a war could break out "without any prior notice."

Mr Kim's uncle, Jang Song Thaek, thought to be his mentor and second in command, was executed earlier this month after being accused of trying to overthrow the state.